Dow Jones today, July 9, 2014: The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 150 points on Tuesday morning and closed the day with a 117.59-point loss. This is the largest one-day decline in nearly two months, as investors remain cautious ahead of corporate earnings season. Eight of the 10 S&P sectors were down on the day, with utilities and consumer discretionary stocks as the lone gainers.
Here's what you should know to make your Wednesday profitable:
Metal Mania: Shares of Alcoa Inc.(NYSE: AA) were up more than 2% in pre-market trading after the company reported strong quarterly earnings. Alcoa is the first large corporation to report earnings each quarter and is viewed by many as a bellwether stock for the broader market. The company announced earnings of $0.18 per share, beating analyst expectations of $0.12 per share. Here's a full look at this quarter's earnings calendar.
A Very Bad Day: Shares of The Container Store Group(NYSE: TCS) are down more than 14% this morning on news that the company slashed its 2014 revenue outlook and lowered earnings expectations. The company cited "sluggish sales" as the culprit. Meanwhile, shares of networking-hardware firm Gigamon Inc. (Nasdaq: GIMO) plunged 30% after the firm lowered its revenue guidance for the second quarter.
A Big Order: Shares of The Boeing Co.(NYSE: BA) were up 1% in pre-market trading on news that Emirates, the world's largest airline by global air traffic, has placed a $56 billion order for 150 777X planes. The agreement also includes an option for another 50 planes that could drive the deal up to $75 billion.
Today's Economic Calendar: Today's schedule features the release of FOMC minutes from the June 18th meeting, the EIA Petroleum Status Report, and MBA Purchase Applications.
Banks Behaving Badly: The Wall Street Journal reports that CitigroupInc.(NYSE: C) is trying to settle a $7 billion agreement with the U.S. Justice Department on charges that the bank sold shoddy mortgages during the years preceding the financial crisis. The agreement will take place next week.
The Oil Boom Remains: Reuters reports that after just four years of the shale boom in the United States, the nation is on pace to surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world's largest producer of crude oil. However, the academic community and commodity analysis companies continue to provide a number of different forecasts, which is creating a lot of confusion for audiences. BP Plc. and the International Energy Agency both agree, however, that the United States could become energy independent by 2035.
Back in Business: In a positive sign for the global oil markets, Libya's largest oil field Sharara is expected to ramp up production, and could reach two-thirds of its daily output capacity. The Libyan oil sector has faced a number of disruptions since a civil war led to the death of former leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The Wall Street Journal reports that the return of Sharara is expected to increase production in the region, which has already doubled since last May.
Earnings Reports: Stay tuned for earnings reports from Synergy Resources Corp. (NYSE: SYRG), WD-40 Co. (Nasdaq: WDFC), MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc. (NYSE: MSM), and Helen of Troy Ltd. (Nasdaq: HELE).
Full U.S. Economic Calendar July 9, 2014
MBA Purchase Applications at 7 a.m.
EIA Petroleum Status Report at 10:30 a.m.
10-Yr Note Auction at 1 p.m.
FOMC Minutes at 2 p.m.
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Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, consultant, and political risk analyst with decades of trading experience and degrees in economics, cybersecurity, and business from Johns Hopkins, Purdue, Indiana University, and Northwestern.